Taye Diggs Joins Empire Season 3 in Major Barack Obama-Infused Role

Taye Diggs has signed on for a major recurring role on Fox’s Empire, TVLine has learned. The Private Practice vet will first appear in the Fox drama’s Sept. 21 Season 3 premiere as Angelo Dubois, a city councilman hailing from a respected and affluent New York family.

With his pedigree and a Harvard law diploma, Diggs’ Angelo could have made a fortune in the private sector. Instead, he is ruled by his sense of noblesse oblige, and focuses his energies on community organizing and local politics, inviting comparisons to Barack Obama.

Diggs, who is currently starring in TNT’s anthology drama Murder in the First, joins a Season 3 guest roster that also includes singer Sierra McClain, rapper French Montana and music mogul Birdman (as himself). As TVLine scooped last month, rapper-actor Xzibit — who joined Empire last season as Lucious’ drug-dealin’, music-makin’ adversary Shyne Johnson — has been promoted to a series regular.

Thoughts on Diggs’ casting? Do you think it’s safe to assume he’s coming in as a love interest for Taraji P. Henson’s Cookie? Or are you picturing him as a potential suitor for Jussie Smollett’s very much single Jamal? Speculate away in the comments!